Getting the right warm mist humidifier can be tricky since there are so many options to pick from, and sometimes, some brands promise key features in their models but fail to live up to their word.
In this buying guide, you will find information about warm mist humidifies to narrow down your choices to the perfect model you desire.
During drier months, humidity levels drop, and the air becomes dry since the amount of moisture in the air becomes very low. This can lead to adverse health effects.
Having a humidifier handy during these times is the best way to combat dry air’s adverse health effects. By adding moisture to the air, humidifiers make it more breathable and alleviate cold and flu symptoms.
Before we jump to the guide, here are the top 5 warm mist humidifiers.
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Top 5 Warm Mist Humidifiers
1. Boneco S450 Warm Mist Humidifier
The Boneco S450 is a feature-packed steam humidifier that will cost you big bucks but comes with great features that will give you value for your money.
The Boneco S450 from Air-O-Swiss is a powerful steam humidifier with large room coverage of up to 860 sq. ft. But it’s not just its room coverage that got us ticked; the S450 also comes with many key features that easily make it the best warm mist humidifier in the market.
Aside from basic features like a low water indicator, an automatic shut off and a humidifier, the S450 comes backed with key features such as a timer, an anti-mineral pad, an auto light dimmer, an auto cleaning mode, a maintenance indicator, and a fragrance container for your favorite essential oils.
The S450 has a tank capacity of 2 gallons and has a daily humidity output of 3.5 gallons, so you shouldn’t expect to refill every day.
The S450 also comes with three control modes, which make maintenance and usage easier than ever: manual mode to manually control humidity, an auto mode for automatic humidity control, and ECON mode for energy-saving performance.
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2. Aprilaire 700 Whole House Humidifier
Finding an efficient and effective whole house warm mist humidifier is quite a task as most whole-house humidifiers are cool mist humidifiers.
The Aprilaire 700 is a powerful fan-powered whole house humidifier that does the job quite well, according to customer reviews on Amazon. Garnering 5-star ratings from 68% of 742 customer reviews on Amazon, you would say this humidifier lacks every possible fault.
The Aprilaire 700M has room coverage of 4200 sq ft. For a humidifier with such large room coverage, the Aprilaire is quite cheap.
Its features include a two control type option: digital and standard, a water panel filter, a controller, and auto settings for humidification.
The unit is quite difficult to install, but you can get helpful information from online sources like Google and Youtube if it proves too difficult. You can also get a licensed HVAC contractor to do it for you and save you time, but you would have to spend more for this option.
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3. Vicks V745A Warm Mist Humidifier
Vicks V745A is one of the most popular choices of warm mist humidifiers for consumers. It is a low-budget filter-free warm mist humidifier with room coverage up to 400 sq ft.
The V745A has a tank capacity of 1 gallon with a daily output of 2 gallons. Its features include a medicine cup for medicinal inhalants, an auto shut off, and an optional night light.
The V745A has a transparent water tank, which makes up for its lack of a low water indicator; you can easily check the water level by looking through the tank.
It also comes with Vicks VapoPads for relief. The Vapopads release a soothing menthol scent that’s great for relieving a stuffy nose, dry throat, and other flu symptoms.
Although most users gave it a 5-star rating on Amazon, some users couldn’t help but complain about the noise it produces during use. Many users complain of a bubbling sound, even in the low setting. Others complained of critical design flaws, which probably lead to the leaking problems they encountered after a few months of use.
However, the V745A is still a great warm mist humidifier due to its price, key features, and ease of use.
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4. Honeywell HWM705B Warm Mist Humidifier
The Honeywell HWM705B is a filter-free compact warm mist humidifier with room coverage of 250 sq ft. It has a 1- gallon tank capacity and a daily humidity output of 2 gallons.
The HWM705B is another low budget humidifier on our list with great features. It is very energy efficient as it consumes less energy compared to the V745A.
However, the HWM705B bears many similarities to the V745A; it has the same medicine cup for medicinal inhalant and an auto shut off but comes with added features such as a low water indicator the V745A lacks.
Its small room coverage and lack of a humidistat might be its only downsides as the HWM705B runs smoothly, promising you a quiet, warmer experience during use.
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5. TaoTronics Warm Humidifier
Unlike other humidifiers on our list, the TaoTronics humidifier is both a warm and cool humidifier offering warm and cool mist options.
The TaoTronics humidifier also comes packed with key features like a 360-degree nozzle, which allows you to control exactly where you want the steam to go. It also comes with a humidistat, a low water indicator, a carrying handle, sleep mode, and a timer.
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What is a warm mist humidifier?
Warm mist humidifiers are the ideal humidifiers during the cold or flu season. Unlike cool mist humidifiers, they produce a warm mist that adds moisture to the air and heats the air.
This means they don’t just make the air breathable but also warm up the air, which will reduce your need for heating during the cold season.
What is the difference between warm mist humidifiers and cool mist humidifiers?
The main difference between warm and cool mist humidifiers is their system of operation. Unlike cool mist humidifiers, warm mist humidifiers come with a heating system that allows them to boil or heat water. The heated water releases warm steam, which the humidifier releases into the air in a warm mist.
Some warm mist humidifiers include mineral pads that absorb the water; other models feature mineral filters for trapping the water’s mineral deposits.
Many models also come with additional features like a reservoir for putting oils that aid in breathing.
When settling for a specific warm mist humidifier model, you should check if it has the right type of features you are looking for since these key features make humidifiers easier to use.
Types of Warm Mist Humidifiers
There are two types of warm mist humidifiers.
Steam/Vaporizer
A steam vaporizer heats or boils water at very high temperatures to produce steam, released into the air to increase the humidity levels. Steam vaporizers allow medicinal inhalants to be incorporated into the steam vapor to alleviate coughs and viral infections like the common cold.
The main benefit of using steam vaporizers is that the heating process eliminates all harmful viruses, bacteria, and mold that would otherwise become airborne. This leaves only a clean, healthy mist for you to breathe in.
Unfortunately, the main benefit of a steam vaporizer is also a disadvantage. During the heating or boiling of water to produce steam, parts of the steam vaporizer can become very hot, making it unsafe around children and pets.
Buying a low-quality steam humidifier will only make things worse as the heat source would be poorly designed and overheat during use, causing the humidifier to leak, melt and possibly start fires.
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Ultrasonic warm mist humidifiers
Rather than a fan, ultrasonic warm mist humidifiers use a diaphragm that vibrates at ultrasonic speed to break down water into a mist. However, a silent fan (in some models) pushes the mist up and out into the room.
Ultrasonic humidifiers don’t use wick filters, so you don’t have to worry about replacing anything, although you will still have to refill the tank and clean it occasionally.
Ultrasonic humidifiers can either emit cool mist only, warm mist, or both. Ultrasonic humidifiers that can emit both cool and warm mist are called dual mist ultrasonic humidifiers.
The Dual mist and cool mist ultrasonic humidifiers are the popular choices among the three.
The main downside of the ultrasonic warm mist humidifier is that in breaking water to create a mist, white dust is also produced, spread around the room during use.
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Things to Consider When Buying a Warm Mist Humidifier
When picking out a specific model of warm mist humidifier, there are some factors you need to consider before settling for that model.
Cost
The cost of warm mist humidifiers ranges from $20 to over $500. The reason for the price differences is due to several factors. One of these factors includes the features present in the models. A model with a low water indicator feature, an automatic shut-off feature, and a humidistat will cost more than one which lacks these features.
However, the main factor affecting the price of different models is the amount of space the humidifier covers – a whole house humidifier will cost you more than one that only works in small spaces.
A Humidifier like the Boneco S450 reasonably costs more than the Vicks V745A warm mist humidifier due to its abundance of features and auto options.
Maintenance
Every type of humidifier requires constant maintenance for it to keep functioning properly. Both evaporative and ultrasonic humidifiers require constant tank refills, which could be twice or thrice a day, depending on your model’s tank capacity.
Many users often complain of difficulty getting the tank and other parts of their humidifiers clean due to poor design in some models. It is recommended you only get a humidifier you would clean properly to prevent the spread of bacteria, algae, and viruses.
Although most warm mist humidifiers use boiled or heated water to make steam (which kills almost all bacteria and mold present in the water), this doesn’t mean you should take cleaning and maintenance less seriously, as stagnant water left in the tank could be a breeding ground for these organisms.
When picking a humidifier, always go with the one you would easily maintain to prevent health complications from unclean air and waste of resources due to early damage or breakage.
Space
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Whole-house humidifiers
Whole-house humidifiers are the largest humidifiers on the market based on room coverage. They hook onto the HVAC system and forces steam into the ducts, and moving throughout your home.
You should only consider this option if you have central heating and cooling.
The main advantages of whole-house humidifiers are that you wouldn’t need to purchase multiple humidifiers and require less maintenance.
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Single room humidifiers
If you are want to humidify a space below 1000 sq ft, then getting a single room humidifier is the best option.
Single room humidifiers are more flexible as they allow you to set your desired humidity level for a particular room, unlike whole-house humidifiers.
Noise
If you’re placing your humidifier in your bedroom, you need to consider whether the noise will affect your sleep ability.
You should also consider the size of the humidifier you are searching for since large humidifiers tend to produce more noise than small portable humidifiers.
Filter or Filter Free
Most warm mist humidifiers deliver clean, hygienic air due to the heating of water to produce steam. Although this is efficient in killing bacteria, algae, and germs, it wouldn’t hurt to get a warm mist humidifier with filters to keep your air 100% clean.
If you are not worried about the cost of maintenance and replacing filters, then you can go ahead and get warm mist humidifiers with filters.
Purpose
Many warm mist humidifiers offer options like a fragrance container for your essentials oils, while others come with a medicine cup for medicinal inhalants. Vicks V745A humidifiers come with VapoPads, which release a soothing menthol scent that’s great for relieving a stuffy nose, dry throat, and other flu symptoms.
Different humidifiers offer different features and functions. If you want a humidifier that humidifies perfectly and also relieves cold and flu symptoms, you may want to get a warm mist humidifier with options for medicinal inhalants and essential oils.
If you want a humidifier for dry skin, you may want to go for one with a high steam output and different steam settings to give you more control.
Always check the features of any humidifier before settling on a specific model.
Tank Capacity
Most users of small humidifiers complain about having to refill constantly. If you’re someone who would find that pretty annoying, you would want to go for a humidifier with a larger tank capacity.
However, the tank capacity is directly proportional to the amount of space the humidifier covers.
Features
Some humidifiers come with some key features that make them better in comparison to others. These features make them easy to use and maintain and also make them last longer.
Humidistat – A humidistat monitors the humidity in the room. A humidistat works by automatically turning off the humidifier when your set humidity level has been reached.
Auto Shutoff – This works in hand with the humidistat when the level of desired humidity is reached. The auto shut-off features shut off the humidifier when the water in the tank gets too low.
Low water indicator – These features including a lighting system. In most cases, a green LED light signals a filled tank, and a red LED light signals a low water tank.
Combination Models – Several humidifiers offer settings for both warm mist and cool mist. This can be advantageous if you want to switch between them during different seasons.
Timer – The timer feature would come in handy, especially if you don’t want the humidifier running all the time. The timer will automatically turn on and off the humidifier at the set time. This can help prevent your room from becoming too humid and save you from refilling the tank often.
Advantages of Warm Mist Humidifiers
Warm mist humidifiers are the messiah of the cold winter season. Most warm mist humidifiers are feature-packed to deal with the dry air and with cold and flu symptoms.
Warm mist humidifiers deliver steam from boiled or heated water that is warm enough to increase the temperature of the room it covers. This provides warmth and raises the humidity of the room. It is most beneficial during the cold season when warmer temperatures are more desirable.
Warm mist humidifiers deliver clean, hygienic mist due to the heating or boiling of water to produce steam. Most water-bred bacteria and germs are eliminated during this process leaving only a clean, healthy mist.
Ultrasonic and steam humidifiers do not use any filters, which makes maintenance quite easier and cheaper.
Warm mist humidifiers are quieter compared to cool mist humidifiers.
Disadvantages of Warm Mist Humidifiers
Due to heating, warm mist humidifiers tend to get too hot during operation. Certain parts of the humidifier will get very hot, especially during long-term use, and become unsafe to be around children and pets.
Warm mist humidifiers need to heat or boil water to produce steam, and this means they will consume more energy, therefore, rising energy costs.
Warm mist humidifiers are also difficult to maintain. Like every other type of humidifier, they require regular cleaning, but most warm mist humidifiers are difficult to clean due to their design. A poorly maintained humidifier can increase your chances of getting infections.
Final Thoughts
Although every humidifier comes with its merits and demerits, it is possible to find one that perfectly suits your needs.
When searching for a specific model, always go through its features, reviews, warranty, and measure them up with your needs. With this buying guide, getting the best warm mist humidifier will be faster and easier. We covered every area and provided the complete information you need to have before buying a warm mist humidifier.
